Pastoral Musings

Cornelius Van Til (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“If the Christian position with respect to creation, that is, with respect to the idea of the origin of both the subject and the object of human knowledge is true, there is and must be objective knowledge. In that case the world of objects was made in order that the subject of knowledge, namely man, should interpret it under God. Without the interpretation of the universe by man to the glory of God the whole world would be meaningless. The subject and object are therefore adapted to one another. On the other hand if the Christian theory of creation by God is not true then we hold that there cannot be objective knowledge of anything. In that case all things in this universe are unrelated and cannot be in fruitful contact with one another. This we believe to be the simple alternative on the question of the objectivity of knowledge as far as the things of this universe are concerned.”

 Cornelius Van Til, The Defense Of The Faith, P&R, Philadelphia, PA, pg 43

In the past week I’ve learned of two guys whose life ended in what we would call a premature manner. One was forty-two years of age and died suddenly. The other was twenty-six years of age and he, too, died suddenly.

These things shock us.

We don’t expect those things to happen.

We understand deep within that these things shouldn’t happen- they simply are abnormalities.

Why?

Because we understand deep down inside that this is not how the world is supposed to be.

Now if the world truly evolved, or if God somehow used evolution to create (which to me seems to be a contradictory use of terms), then these things would be normal and expected. We would realize that it is simply how things are. We would probably even evolve a method/organ with which to deal with these things. We would then accept them easily and move on with life.

But we don’t do that.

We don’t do that because we cannot.

We don’t do that because death will never be normal, though it is understood that it happens.

We battle against death.

We fight it.

We hate it.

We try to avoid it.

We weep, we ache, we cry, we scream, we get angry when we lose someone to death.

This is only understandable in the light of the fact that God gave us a perfect creation just as Genesis 1-2 tell us.

This is understandable in light of the fact that death is an anomaly and not part of creation.

This is also understandable in light of the fact that death results from the fall of man, and so does the accompanying heartache.

We have hope because we read of a literal redemption that is available in Christ.

We have hope because we read of a time when Christ restores Paradise to man, or man to Paradise.

We have hope because we read of a time when death is finally and forever abolished.

Once one begins to deny a literal historical narrative of creation in Genesis 1-2, he logically must deny the literal nature of the reversal of the fall and the return to Paradise.

Redemption is then a fallacy.

It is only a dream.

Christianity is then only an opiate for the uneducated, or those who are in denial.

This is not a slippery slope argument. It is about following the foolish logic of those who deny that the Creation Narrative is truly a literal historical narrative to its end.

Do these professing Christians truly wish to deny hope and peace to grieving people? In the end they are denying it by laying the foundation for the rejection of redemption and restoration. They may not deny these things, but the foundation is laid. It will not be long until there are those who will follow them and their logic to its logical conclusion.

As for me, I shall cling to Scripture and cling to hope in Christ. That is the only way that I can offer hope to others.

If that sounds pragmatic; pardon  me, please. There is simply no reason or no hope in an uncreated world, and I have no desire to embrace irrationality and despair. I also refuse to subject those dear people who are in my care to hopelessness.

I choose to embrace a literal reading of the Genesis Creation Narrative because I embrace rationality and hope.

So independent, too, one may feel; so original he may think himself. • Commentaries, he can sneer at them all; other preachers, he has little need of comparing views with them. No need of anything but the resources of his own imagination, for such preaching is too often only building castles in the air.

 

John A. Broadus, “On The Preparation And Delivery Of Sermons”

What an eye-opening book!

This is one book that the reader will either love or hate. I do not believe a person can be ambivalent about this book. It addresses the hot button issue of depression and bipolar disorders. In doing so it goes against the grain and contradicts much of today’s ideas about these issues.

Click here to buy from the publisher.

Written by a medical doctor, this book gives both a medical and biblical perspective on the issue of depression.

Many today deal with depression as a disease. Dr. Hodges tells us that there is no set-in-stone manner in which depression can be diagnosed. It’s not as if there is a blood test which will show the presence of depression. In fact, Dr. Hodges tells us that the diagnosis of depression is subject to the opinion of the one making the diagnosis.

Interestingly enough (And astounding, too!), it seems that many bipolar symptoms are caused by antidepressant medications.

Hodges presents to us the need to think through the diagnosis and treatment of depression. In fact, he plainly shows that much depression can be dealt with as sadness was once dealt with; because the two are the same. I was gratified to see that he has successfully helped some depressed people by counseling them from Scripture, leading them to repentance and faith in the sovereignty of God in their lives. When we repent and embrace God’s love to us we will often find ourselves leaving behind damaging behaviors and finding joy in Christ.

There is no way to recommend this book too highly if someone is concerned about the problems that often lead to diagnoses of bipolar disorder or depression. Pastors, counselors, and others who desire to minister to people dealing with these things certainly would be helped by reading this book.

It deserves a five star rating.

Augustine. (Tr. ii. 15) Having said, Born of God; to prevent surprise and trepidation at so great, so apparently incredible a grace, as that men should be born of God; to assure us, he says, And the Word was made flesh. Why marvellest thou then that men are born of God? Know that God Himself was born of man.

Jon has a great post here.

Though I haven’t paid attention to the total number of hits, I’m glad that this post is getting seen daily.

The contrast between Genesis and Enuma Elish cannot be emphasized enough.

…it has never been shown that texts are always or necessarily misinterpreted when they are used as proofs for doctrines.

John Frame

The Doctrine Of The Knowledge Of God

Pastoral duties have me busy presently, but I could not pass this up.

One of the most foolish things that we hear today is the idea that Scripture is incarnate.

It is not.

God the Word, Jesus the Christ, is incarnate.

Scripture is inspired, but not incarnate.

The closest that Scripture comes to being incarnate is in its being fulfilled in Christ.

The next closest Scripture comes to being incarnate is by being wrapped in Moroccan leather, or something similar.

I do not say that irreverently. I say it seriously. We cannot make Christ and Scripture so totally one that we do not distinguish between them.

The Son of God came to us in flesh. Scripture came via the Spirit in a text.